Abstract
ABSTRACT: When Mina first meets Van Helsing in Bram Stoker’s Dracula , she plays a trick on him by giving him the shorthand version of her Whitby diary, which she anticipates he will not be able to read. This essay looks at the central positioning of Mina’s practical joke as an opportunity to consider how Stoker represents women’s capacity to be funny through Lucy, Mina, and Mrs. Bilder, the zookeeper’s wife. The three major theories of humor—superiority, relief, and incongruity, along with nineteenth-century discussions of women and comedy—help clarify how sexualizing women’s laughter through vampirism threatens conventional Victorian sensibilities and masculinity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
